Lathe.



l Patented May 6, |902. L. G. M'EBRITT.

LATHE.

(Application led July, 1901.)

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L. G. MERRITT.

LATHE.

(Application led July 80,- 1901,)

. 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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No. 999,547.` Patented May 6, |902.

L. G. MERRITT.

LATHE.

(Application led July 80, 1901.) l (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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INVENTOR BY 6| l( 74677411; fw ATTORNEY l Y Patented may 6, |902. L. s. mEnmTT.

L AT H E.

(Application med July so, 1901.)

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(No Model.)

INVENTOR ATTORNEYSa m uwe.. wAsHlumon n c Patented May 6, |902.

l No. 699,547.

L. G. MEBRITT.

L A T H E.

(Application led July 80, 1901.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 5,

(No Model.)

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@gmx/W Z INVENTDR mmmziwfwxq ATTORNEY No. 699,547, Patented May 6,1902.

L. G. MERHITT.

LATHE. (Application med .my ao, 1901.) (lo Mader.) Y ssheets-#sheet a,

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A rrofM/E y i UNTTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS G. MERRITT, OF LOCKPORT, NEV YORK.

I AIHE.'

SPECIFICATION forming part of` Letters :Patent No. 699,547, dated May c, 1902. Applimnon nea July so. 1901.l serai No. 70.205. `(No man.)

To CLU whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS G. MERRITT, re-

siding at Lockport, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain' new and useful Improvements in Lathes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and 'use the same.

My invention relates to the general type ofi machine in which a piece of stock, wood, or otherwise to loeV operated on is held between Vchucks in a lathe, the tools for operating upon` 'said stock'being carried by a carriage orA car` The objects of myinvention are to provide al newandimproved construction of the framework of the lathe or veneer-'cutting machine in which injury and Wear due to the strain resulting from use will be reduced to a minimum; to provide a new and improved construction wherein the dogging nut or nuts which control the longitudinal movement of the spindle will be easily accessible for purposes of oiling and within thereach ofV an operator standing near the center of the machine; to provide a construction in which the` ways upon which the slide-blocks of the car-` riage work may provide bearings for such slide-blocks both above and below'the line of centers; to provide a construction wherein the feed-screws for the knife-carriage apply' their pressure on the line of centers; toprov-ide improvementsin the manner of driving the various feed-shafts of the machine and in the arrangement of such shafts; to provide a construction wherein the spindles or chuckshafts are supported at a point outsidethe heads of thei frame, as well as within said heads.

My invention consists, further, in certain features of construction and combinations of elements, the objects and advantages of which will hereinafter appearand the novel features thereof pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the I show a construction designed espe- `acccomp'anying` drawings, which, with the characters of reference marked thereon, form apart ofthis specification, and in Which- VFigure 1 is a side elevation of my machine as a'whole, the feed-shafts for the slide-block in the-left end being in section and the knifecarriage being omitted. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the center of the machine. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 4 4, Fig. Il, looking toward the right. Fig. 5 is an end elevation looking toward the left of Fig. 1. Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional details of quickfeed wheels and locking and controlling devices therefor adapted to be used in connection with the spindles. Fig. 8 is a sectional view,'partly in elevation, showing an auxiliary carriage located on the opposite side of the line of centers from the main carriage, together with the various shafts by which said auxiliary carriage and the main carriage are driven. Fig. 9 is a detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the ways and slide-blocks for the auxiliary carriage,together with an impression-roll carried thereby. Fig. l0 is a side elevation,with parts broken away, showing the position of the knife with relation to the line of centers.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. l and 2, it will be understood that for purposes of illustration the distance between the chucks has been shownl somewhat less than it would be in the actual machine, but that such difference is a matter purely of design in' `the construction of the framework, of which the main frame (designated in a general'way by A) is cast in one piece and comprises a base portion B and end or head portions C C integral therewith. For convenience of description parts will be spoken of throughout the specification as ffcastingsfg but this is not a term'of limitat1on,"as` suclrt parts may be produced in any desiredfway. Uprights or supports -D D are separate from the main frame, butbolted thereto adjacent to and parallel with the inner faces of the head portions. Except as otherwise stated, .the

parts on one side of the machine are duplicates of those on the other, and a description IOO construction is such that the spindle 1 is freel to pass through the short sleeve 2,'held by the supportD, without applyingsidewise pressure to such support. This chuck-spindle or main driving-spindle 1, which carries at its end the chuck4, is threadedfor a large portion of its length and is carried within the long sleeve 5, which is revolved in the bearings 6 in the head portion C by means of large gear-wheel 7, keyed onto the outside kend of the sleeve 5. y

Thev counter-shaft of the machine (indicated at is supported in suitable boxes and caps and drivenvfrom a suitable source of power. Pinions 3l 3l engage and vdrive the gears 7 on the'ends of the chuck-spindles.

"' The-spindle and sleeve revolve together on tions; but the spindle is free to move throughv the sleeve lengthwise, which longitudinal vmovement is necessary indogging the log. A cylindrical nut S` on lthe spindle l isplaced between the sleeve 5 and the bearing in the support D, which will be spoken of as bearing d. A hand-Wheel 9 on nut-8 is adapted to control the rotation of such nut. In order to provide for the longitudinal movement of the two chuck-spindlesl, hand-wheel 9 is shownv at the right hand of Fig. 2, while upon the left-hand spindle is a quick-feed wheel 10, double-rimmed, as at 11 and 12,having proper devices for'acting upon either rim in order to rotate said wheel in one direction or the' other, as will be hereinafter fully described. Caps 13 13 hold the chuck-spindles tothe bearing in the head portions of the frame.

. I-provide the following construction for obtaining a quick rotation of the dogging-nut in either direction in order to give a quick longitudinal movement tothe chuck-spindle on the, left-hand end of the machine. A sleeved support l5 carries the inner sleeve 16. Friction-shaft 18, eccentrically mounted in such sleeve, carries on its end paper frictions or frictional rolls 19 andV on the other end friction-pulleys 20, the position of the paper frictions being controlled by the lever 21, connected to sleeve 16, so that the revolving friction-roll 19 can be brought-into contact with eitherthe inner. or the outer rim of the double-rimmed wheel 10, and thus a rapid rotation of said wheel and the dogging-n ut is se- 7 as used for rotating the main feed-shaft F.

' This device is-Well known; but in connection with the quick feed on each end of the ma- Vchine is likewise a device for positively locking said wheel, which device will now be described.

A bracket 21 (shown in Fig. 2) carries a shaft 22, which is flattened at its end, as shown at 23 'in Figs. 4 and 6, Where it bears between two friction-shoes 24 24, carrying friction-woods 25 25, adapted to bear one against theinner face of the rim and the other against the hub of the hand-wheel 9. By means of lever 26 on the end of the said shaft 22 this shaft can be rocked, whereupon the friction-woods will be forced against the adjacent parts of the'hand-wheel 9 'to lock it from rotation. nection with the wheel 10 is similar in all respects, except that the friction-woods bear against the inner and outer rims, as shown f .in Fig. 6.

, Referring now to Figs. 1, 4, and 10, the construction of the slide-blocks which support and carry with them the tool-carriage of the mavchine will be described.

It will be understood that the tool-carriage or tool-carriages may comprise any suitable devices for operating upon the stock carried between the chucks. In a veneer-cutting machine this tool-carriage would comprise a knife-carriage proper and means for supporting the pressure-bar. Such a construction is illustrated in Fig. 10, where a knife-carriage and pressure-bar 82 are shown in their proper relation to the frame. The knife-carriage SO has side plates 81, which are mounted in a suitable manner upon the slide-blocks 41, so that the knife-carriage is fed with the slide-blocks. The construction of knife-carriage and pressure-bar shown herein is illustrated and described more fully in my pending application, No. 64,374, filed June l13, 1901. FurtherV illustration or description thereof is not deemed necessary in this case. The knife-carriage is illustrated in connectionv with the chuckfspindles and slide-blocks in order to show the advantage of a construction in which the edge of the knife is substantially on the line of centers and on the line of feed, so that the strain upon the knife will be absorbed by the carriage in the most efficient manner, this being particularly the case, because the ways for the heavy knife-carriage furnish supports therefor both above and below the line of chuck-centers, and the feed-screws point to the centers of The locking device in con- IOO IIO

the chuck-shaf ts. The supports D furnish ways for the slide-blocks of the carriage, (indicated at 41.) These Ways have bearings for the-slide-blocks both above and below the line of centers, gibs 42 being placed on the upper side of said ways. The feed-screws 43, which actuate the slide-blocks, pass through boxes 43', attached to said blocks, and are so located that'theyapply their pressure in adirect line --with the main drive-spindles and the edge of the knife. At the outer end of the feed-screw 43 is a spur-gear 44, meshing with the spurgear 45 on the end of the second shaft 46,which passes through the cap 47 in the support D and carries a bevel-gear 4S, meshing with a bevelgear 49 upon the vertical shaft 50, which in turn is driven by the bevel-gearl from the bevel-gear 52 upon the main feed-shaft F. It

-These slide-blocks carry boxes or bearin gs 103 forv the journals of an impression-roll 104. These'boxes are held to the slideblocks by gibs 105 and adjustable by means of the screwshafts 106. Instead of the roll a plate-casting could be mounted upon the carriage for the purposeof holding chamfering or marking knives, and other obviousvariations will present themselves. y

The novel feature claimed herein resides in the construction such that it is possible to use a threaded shaft 46 to drive an auxiliary carriage or, when the auxiliary carriage is not desired, to use such threaded shaft merely as an element of the construction for driving the feed-screw 43 from the driving-shaft F. It will Vbe obvious also that, if desired, at such times the long shaft 46 may be replaced by a short shaft which shall carry gears, such as 45 and 48, thereby connecting gear 49 with gear 44. From this viewpoint the shaft 46 is something more than a mere supplementary shaft provided to drive a second carriage. It is a part of a system of shafting devised, in the first place, to operate the knife-carriage with a pressure properly applied; second, to f the center of the machine,whereasif.tl1e shaft 50 connected 43 directly with the long shaft F the latterwould have to be out on the ioor, Where the operator would be compelled to step over it. Other'advantages will be obvious. In similar devices old in this art no such construction is possible. ported in suitable brackets on the framework and is driven at one end by the quick-feed device heretofore described in connection with the same device upon chuck-spindle 1 and shown in detail in Fig. 7, by which it may be given a quick rotation in either direction.` At the right hand of said shaft it is driven through the interpositon of a proper Feed-shaft F is supclutch g by a spur-gear 70, meshing with the mounted upon sleeve 5, just outside of the i sprocket-wheel 55, and carries a bolt 57, which passes through an elongated slot 58Vin a curved link 59, bolted to the framework at 60 and 61, so that by loosening the bolt 57 the arm 56 can be Iswung upward, bolt 57 passing along the elongated slot, and the gear 50 disengaged from the gear 51er proper adj ustment secured. The operation, which will now be readily, understood, is as follows: yThe feed-shaft F may be given a quick ro'- tation lfrom the quick-feed wheel to carry the toolcarriage, which is driven 'therefrom through the feed-shafts 43 quickly towardor from` the work, and by throwing in the clutch g the cutting-feed, which is driven from the main driving-shaft through the gears 31, gear 7, sleeve 5, sprocket-wheels, chain, andgears 50 and 51 on the left-hand end of the machine,4 may then be put in operation in order to supply a constant cutting-feed forlthe toolcarriage. In dogging the log, in releasing the core, or in moving the core bodily the spindles 1 may be lnoved in the desired direction by rotating the hand-Wheel or fastfeed wheel in the same direction in which the spindles are rotated, but more rapidly, or by rotating such wheels in adifferent direction or when great power is desired, as to finish driving a chuck into the log, the doggingnuts, one or both, may be locked positively by movement of the lever or levers-26, thereby throwing the friction-woods 25 against the wheel-rims, as heretofore described. 'f The further operation will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the description of wvarious parts and need not be-elaborated.

The advantages of myconstruction result,

in the first place, from makingtherain 4frame integraland separate from the supports Din ways upon which thejknife-carriage' slides.

vthey are bolted to these ends, the (logging strain forces the ways apart and gives the knife-carriage too much play. In my construction the strain is applied to the bearings 6 at a point where the 'shoulder a makes a thrustbearing, as at d. As the support D is provided with a bearing cl,which surrounds the spindle 1 and sleeve 2, the strain which cornes -fromv the action of the pressure-bar is transverse or at right angles to the clogging strain, and the support or way casting D retains within itself a large amount ot' the strain which would otherwise come entirely upon'the main bearing 6. Thus each set of strains is provided for independently of the other and by means of parts cast in one piece without joints.

The introduction of the extra bearing d in.

the support D gives an opportunity to place the dogging-nut 8 between this bearing and the main bearing 6 in the end or head Vportion of the trame. WVhen the spindle is be- Ving thrust into the log, the pressure is between the nut and the'main bearing 6, and when being'withdrawn from the log the pressure is' between the nutand the Way-bearing d.' In constructions which are old'in the art the' dogging-nut is carried within a flanged casting boltedor screwed to the opposite nut of sleeve 2. This brings the nutand its controlling devices outside the drive-gear and at the extreme end of the machine. The casing covers the nut from view, so that any injury due to the bearing strain is unnoticed and much trouble is caused. The construction is also liable to breakage, depending as it does lon bolts and screw-threads to maintain it. "In my construction the nut S is close 'to the center of the machine, and its controlling devices are handy to the operator. There are no bolts or 'screw-threads to hold the nut in place, and it is open to inspection at all times. Y

In constructions common in the art but one track or way, and that below the line of centers, is provided for the knife-carriage,and a gib is placed underneath the track. In my construction bearing surfaces or tracks b oth above and below the center of the spindles are provided for the support of the slideblocks for'the knife-carriage, and the feedscrews applyv their vpressure in a direct line with the main drive-spindles. While the feed-screwsa are so geared that they run directly to the center of thedrive-spindle, the

, construction'is such that the parallel shafts -46 may pass below the spindles to the back of the machine, Where they may bethreaded and operate a second carriage on the back side of the log. This arrangement also allows the horizontal feed-shaft F to be located forward, permitting the operator to get up close to the log, while in constructions old in the art this shaft is vertically in line with the spur-gear at the outer ends of the main feed-screws.

' The advantages resulting from the construction in which I provide a positive frictional lock in connection with the (loggingnuts, so that when great power is needed these dogging-nuts may beheld against rotation without being obliged to use the pawland-ratchet construction, which is old in the art and which results in great strain and shock to the machinery, are obvious.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*- l. In a veneencutting machine, a carriage for supporting the veneer-cutting knife, and supports providing ways for said carriage, said Ways furnishing bearings for said carriage both above and below the lineof chuck centers, the constructionand arrangement being such that the cutting edge of the knife is located substantially on the line of feed and in the Aplane of the chuck centers.

2. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combination with the usual chucks and chuckspindles, a carriage for the veneer-knife reciprocable with relation to said chucks, ways for said carriage furnishing bearings therefor' both above and below the line of chuck centers and feed-screws located onv the line of chuck centers, whereby the strain upon the veneer-cutting knife is substantially along the line of the feed-screws.

3. In a veneer-cutting machine, a main frame, bearings in said main frame for the chuck-spindles, supports located on said main frame adjacent the headport'ionsthereof,ways on said supports for the slide-blocks, which support the veneer-knife carriage, said ways furnishing bearings for said slide-blocks both above and below the line of chuckcenters, bearings in said supports through which the chuck-spindles pass, and feed-screws for said slide-blocks, said feed-screws beinglocated so as to apply their pressure in the line of centers.

4. In a Veneer-cutting machine, a frame comprisinga base portion and two head portions, in combination with supports located parallel to the inner faces of said heads and connected to said' base portions, bearings in said Vhead portions for the chuck-spindles, supplementary bearings in said supports for the chuck-spindles, ways in'said supports, said ways furnishing bearings for the slideblocks ot' the veneer-cntting-knife carriage both above and below the line of centers of the chucks, whereby the strain upon the veneer-knife in operation will be divided between the two ways, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a veneer-cutting machine, a main ICO IIO

frame, ways upon said main frame adapted for slide-blocks for a main carriage, feedscrews for said slide-blocks acting in the line of centers, threaded shafts below said feedscrews and parallel therewith, which shafts pass below the drive-spindles and are adapted to act as feed-screws for an auxiliary carriage,means for driving said feed-screw shafts from said second shafts, and means for driving said second shafts from the main feedshaft of the machine.

6. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combination, with the usual chucks and chuckspindles, a main carriage, a feed-screw therefor, a shaft passing below said chuck-spindles, and gearing at one end with said feedscrew and threaded at its other end whereby it is adapted to engage the feed-nut of au auxiliary carriage located on the opposite side of the line of centers from the main carriage.

7. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combination, with the usual chucks and chuckspindles, a main carriage, a feed-screw therefor, a shaft passing below said chuck-spindles, and gearing at one end directly with said feed-screw and threaded at its other end whereby it is adapted to engage the feed-nut of an auxiliary carriage located on the opposite side of the line of centers from the main carriage.

8. In a Veneer-cutting machine, a tool-carriage supported upon slide-blocks in suitable ways, feed-screws for said slide-blocks, gears connecting said feed-screws with shafts parallel therewith, a driving-shaft F located at a substantial distance within the ends of said feed-screws and auxiliary shafts and toward the center of the machine, and gearing between said driving-shaft and said auxiliary shafts, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combination, a tool-carriage supported upon slideblocks in suitable ways, feed-screws therefor, parallel shafts geared directly to said feedscrews and extending toward the center of the machine, a driving-shaft located at a substantial distance within the ends of said feedscrews and toward the center of the machine, and driving connections between said shafts.

10. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combination, a frame comprising a base portion and head portions integral therewith, chuckspindles having bearings` in said head portions, an independent Way or support locatedV adjacent one of said head portions and pro-` viding supplementary bearings for one of said Vspindles ,and a way for the slide-block of a tool-carriage, a nut located upon said spindle between said bead portion and said support, means for rotating said spindle, and means for independently controlling the rotation of said nut, the construction and arrangement being' such that the strain resulting from the dogging of the work is borne by the head portion of the frame while the strain resulting from the action of the tool-carriage is borne in the rst instance by said support.

1l. In a machine of the character described, a frame comprising a base portion and head portions, supports located on said base portion adjacent the inner faces of said head portions, ways in said supports adapted for the slide-blocks of a tool-carriage, spindles slipported in hearings in said head portions and in said supports, nuts controlling the longitudinal movement of said spindles located between said head portions and said supports, whereby the strain resulting from the dogging of the work is borne by the head portion of the frame, while the strain resulting from the action of the tool-carriage is borne in the iirst instance by the supports.

12. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combination,a frame having the base portion B and the integral head portions C C, a support or way D, a spindle l supported in bearings in one of said head portions and in such way, a nut 8 upon such spindle located between said support and said head portion, means for driving said spindle, and means for controlling the rotation of saidnut independently of said spindle.

13. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combination, a frame,suitablydriveli spindles supported upon said frame, suitable ways upon said frame, slide-blocks in such ways, feedscrews 43 for such slide-blocks, a second shaft 46 from which shafts 43 are driven, shaft 50 from which said shafts 46 are driven, and a main feed-shaft F from which said shaft 50 is driven, the construction and arrangement being such that the main feed-shaft F is inside of the vertical plane of the end of the shaft 43. i

14. In combination, a lathe-spindle, anut controlling the longitudinal movement of said spindle, and power-actuated frictional means for locking said nut from rotation.

l5. In combination, in a machine of the character described, a lathe-spindle, a nut controlling thelongitudinal movement of said spindle, a wheel connected to said nut to rotate therewith, and a frictional device located within the rim of said wheel on said wheel whereby said nut may be prevented from rotation.

16. In combination, a lathe-spindle, a nut controlling the longitudinal movement of said spindle, a rimmed wheel keyed to said nut, friction-shoes adapted to bear within the rim of said wheel, and means for forcing said shoes against said rim whereby the Wheel will be held from rotation. v

17. In combination, a lathe-spindle, a nut controlling the longitudinal movement ofsaid spindle, a rimmed wheel keyed to said nut, friction-shoes adapted to bear one against-the `inner face of said rim and oneagainstl the hub of said wheel, a tlattenedshaft upon IOO which the sides of said shoes normally rest, ed to bear Within said Wheel, flattened shaft lo and means for rocking the said shaft Where- 22 controlling the position of said friction by the said shoes will be forced against the devices, and lever 26 for rocking said shaft. v adjacent parts of said Wheel and said Wheel In testimony whereof I affix my signature 5 will be looked against rotation. i in the presence of two witnesses.

1S. In a veneer-cutting machine, in eolnbi- LOUIS Gr. MERRIT'I. nation, the threaded spindle 1, nut 8 upon Vitnesses: said spindle, Wheel 9 carried with said nut, FRANK M. BREDELL,

friction-Woods 25 and friction-shoes 24 adapt- ROY H. ERNEST. 

